Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-09-02

could be brought together for the purpose
Many Of them were women who had given up
the occupation for years. This particular
gown was of most elaborate design, figures,
or spriggs, being applied to Brussels net in
stead of being worked in with the net as now.
Curiously enough, stumbled across, in lit
tie grocer's shop at Lyme Regis, the chief Of
the original workers upon this dress. Mrs.
Rugg, for that was her name, was delighted
to find me interested in the lace industry
Her face lit up as she told me the queen sent
her ticket to the ceremony that she might
see her handiwork worn in state. Aided by
Mrs. Rugg we gathered together a group Of
the Honiton lacemakers. and the artist of the
party photographed them. Among other
things these lacemakers told me that the de-
signs drawn at Somerset House for the
queens wedding gown we're in the possession
Of the woman who put the lace together.
Afterward l saw them, a curious assortment
OF several hundred pieces of cardboard
pricked in the most ingenious geometric and
flower patterns, adapted, of course, to the
necessities of lacemaking. The lace work.
ers wished to make jubilee Offering of this
tc the queen, thinking that she might choose
to present them to some art school or collec-
ton. They were greatly disappointed, how
ever. to receive a somewhat peremptorv re-
ply to the effect that the queen declined the
Offering. | found more lacemakers at Beer
than at Lyme, while Sidmouth, still further
west, on the Devonshire coast, boasts of be-
ing the present artistic center of the lace in
dustry "Honiton" varies much in quality.
The most beautiful now being produced is
made under the stimulus of the prizes offered
in conn ction with the Arts Department of
the Bath. After spending Monday morning
in Lyme Regis and enjoying a little excur-
sion along the coast to Beer, we took the Ex-
eter road and arrived in this famous west Of
England city late Monday night.
DR.. Kellett, an old writer, describes it as
"A wicked wonder, with grief and indig1la-
ton of heart, that whereas the city of Exeter
is by its natural situation one of the sweetest
cities Of England, yet by the i'll use of many
is one of the nastyest and noysommest cities
in the land" Exeter is ancient and stinks, !"
wrote DR.. Southey in 1799 There is truth to
this day in what both these learned and OBJ
serving men said nearly a century ago
There are parts Of Exeter which are beauti-
full and have no doubt sweet. On the other
hand, walk TO the bottom of the main street
and stand on the viaduct; gaze on the Exeter
below, inhale the smoke from the chmneys,
which are almost on level with you, and
you will be impressed with these obser va
tions Southey was a Liberal, and he de-
nounced Exeter as "bigoted place." for this
reason-"there are persons here who always
call the Americans the rebels" Exeter to-
day is a cathedral city, eminently respect
able, with bright, attractive shops, small
manufacturing interests, and a good business
from the surrounding country. Southey was
struck with the double city, and remarked:
"As you cross the bridge you look down upon
a town below you, intersected by water III q
strange way" In spite of being a cathedral
city, the Exonians have a reputation of being
thoughtful touching their trade in WOOL If